Temporary railing for a building including dual-use corner pulley and associated methods

ABSTRACT

A temporary railing may include a plurality of cable temporary supports spaced along the boundary of the building floor, and a plurality of vertically spaced apart cables carried by the temporary cable supports to extend along the boundary of the building floor. The temporary cable supports may include at least one dual-use corner pulley temporarily coupled to a respective vertical building member. The dual-use corner pulley may include a mounting bracket to be temporarily coupled to the respective vertical building member on either an inside corner or outside corner thereof, a yoke including a proximal end connected to the mounting bracket, and a wheel removably carried by the yoke and having an inner surface adjacent the proximal end of the yoke for rotatably supporting a respective cable in a tensioned condition if the mounting bracket is connected to the inside corner. The wheel may also have an outer surface opposite the inner surface for rotatably supporting the respective cable in the tensioned condition if the mounting bracket is connected to the outside corner.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based upon U.S. Provisional Application Nos.60/624,206 filed Nov. 2, 2004; 60/630,019 filed Nov. 22, 2004;60/641,385 filed Jan. 4, 2005 and 60/669,503 filed Apr. 8, 2005; theentire subject matter of each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of construction, and, moreparticularly, to the field of temporary railings for buildings andassociated methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A temporary railing may be used to protect construction workers at anelevated construction site. Such a temporary railing may generallyemploy a series of stanchions spaced around the boundary of a buildingfloor and a set of parallel cables carried by the stanchions. Theparallel cables are manually tensioned by turnbuckles and/or winches tothereby form a substantially rigid grid on the boundary or perimeter ofthe construction site. For example, such a typical railing is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,281 to Murray, wherein winches are used to setthe initial tension of the cables. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,881,699 and6,270,057 also disclose conventional temporary railings for a buildingfloor.

Another type of building fall protection system includes a safety cableor safety line to which the lanyard of a worker's safety harness may beslidably connected while erecting a steel framework, for example, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,146. U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,598 toMackinnon discloses a similar safety line as does U.S. Pat. No.6,270,057 to Highley et al. Such a safety line typically is required toprovide a shock absorbing feature should a worker fall, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,071. In contrast, it is generallydesired that a temporary railing for a building floor apply a relativelylarge tension to the cables, and that the cables are not readily movedby contact by a worker, for example.

Unfortunately, the current temporary railings need periodic manualadjustments to maintain the cable tension to counteract the elongationof the cables, and/or the slight movement of various stanchions thatwould otherwise cause slack and thereby release the cable tension. Sucha manual maintenance requirement can require many man hours, especiallywhere temporary railings are used on multiple floors of a building.

Another drawback of a conventional cable railing is that it typicallyrequires that the entire railing be released and lowered to permit auser to move heavy equipment past the railing. Alternatively, the heavyequipment needs to be lifted over the railing.

The boundary of a typical building floor may also include variouscorners. A simple eye for receiving the cable can be attached to avertical building member at a corner, but is likely to increaseresistance to tensioning of course, the corner may be inside or outsidecorners depending on the railing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide a temporary railing for a boundary of abuilding floor that can be readily installed on inside or outsidecorners.

This and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with theinvention are provided by a temporary railing that may include aplurality of cable temporary supports spaced along the boundary of thebuilding floor, a plurality of vertically spaced apart cables carried bythe temporary cable supports to extend along the boundary of thebuilding floor, and wherein the temporary cable supports may comprise atleast one dual-use corner pulley temporarily coupled to a respectivevertical building member. The dual-use corner pulley may comprise amounting bracket to be temporarily coupled to the respective verticalbuilding member on either an inside corner or outside corner thereof, ayoke comprising a proximal end connected to the mounting bracket, and awheel removably carried by the yoke and having an inner surface adjacentthe proximal end of the yoke for rotatably supporting a respective cablein a tensioned condition if the mounting bracket is connected to theinside corner. The wheel may also have an outer surface opposite theinner surface for rotatably supporting the respective cable in thetensioned condition if the mounting bracket is connected to the outsidecorner.

More particularly, the inner surface of the wheel may cooperate with theyoke for selectively capturing the respective cable in a slack conditionif the mounting bracket is connected to the inside corner. Accordingly,the dual-use corner pulley may further include a removable cable capturemember cooperating with the outer surface of the wheel for selectivelycapturing the respective cable in the slack condition if the mountingbracket is connected to the outside corner. For example, the yoke maycomprise a distal end opposite the proximal end having at least onecapture pin opening therein, and the removable cable capture member maycomprise a removable capture pin extending through the at least onecapture pin opening.

The dual-use corner pulley may further comprise an axle rotatablymounting the wheel to the yoke, and a removable axle pin associated withthe axle. The mounting bracket may comprise a pair of spaced apartmounting plates. In addition, the mounting bracket may further compriseat least one fastener extending through at least one of the mountingplates. The dual-use corner pulley may further include a weld plateconnected to at least one of the mounting plates. In some embodiments,the railing may further include at least one chain for securing the atleast one dual-use corner pulley to the respective vertical buildingmember.

The plurality of temporary cable supports may comprise at least onestanchion temporarily secured to the building floor. For example, the atleast one stanchion may have an adjustable height.

A method aspect is for establishing a temporary railing for a boundaryof a building floor of a building comprising at least one verticalbuilding member. The method may include positioning a plurality of cabletemporary supports spaced along the boundary of the building floor, andpositioning a plurality of vertically spaced apart cables carried by thetemporary cable supports to extend along the boundary of the buildingfloor. Positioning the temporary cable supports may comprise coupling atleast one dual-use corner pulley to a respective vertical buildingmember. Moreover, the at least one dual-use corner pulley may include amounting bracket to be temporarily coupled to the respective verticalbuilding member on either an inside corner or outside corner thereof, ayoke comprising a proximal end connected to the mounting bracket, and awheel removably carried by the yoke and having an inner surface adjacentthe proximal end of the yoke for rotatably supporting a respective cablein a tensioned condition if the mounting bracket is connected to theinside corner, the wheel also having an outer surface opposite the innersurface for rotatably supporting the respective cable in the tensionedcondition if the mounting bracket is connected to the outside corner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a temporary railingaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the portable cable tensioning apparatusin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another schematic diagram of a portion the portable cabletensioning apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram of a portion the portable cabletensioning apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of theportable cable tensioning apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the alternative embodiment of theportable cable tensioning apparatus in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a portablecable tensioning apparatus to be used in the temporary railing inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another alternative embodiment of aportable cable tensioning apparatus to be used in the temporary railingin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a primary cable clamp for defining anaccess opening in the temporary railing in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a cable jack for defining an accessopening in the temporary railing in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the connecting link of the cablejack of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the extension arm of the cable jackof FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the hinge pin of the cable jack of FIG.10.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the cable jack of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 15-18 are side perspective views of the primary and second cableclamps of the temporary railing illustrating securing for defining anaccess opening in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of the primar and secondary cableclamps shown in the clamped position in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of a cable jack for defining an accessopening in the temporary railing in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of the cable jack in FIG. 20 show inthe released position.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a section of the temporary railing inaccordance with the invention illustrating the components forestablishing the access opening.

FIG. 23 is a schematic plan view of the temporary railing in accordancewith the invention.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a fasteningarrangement for the bottom plate of the cable tensioning apparatus shownin FIG. 3.

FIG. 25 is an end elevation view of an alternative embodiment of thecable tensioning apparatus in accordance with the invention andillustrated with the mesh doors removed for clarity.

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the alternative embodiment of thecable tensioning apparatus shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is an end elevation view of an alternative embodiment of thecable tensioning apparatus in accordance with the invention andillustrated with the mesh doors in place.

FIG. 28 is a side elevation view of the alternative embodiment of thecable tensioning apparatus shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is an end elevation view of an alternative embodiment of thecable tensioning apparatus in accordance with the invention andillustrated with the mesh doors in place and showing interior portions.

FIG. 30 is a side elevation view of the alternative embodiment of thecable tensioning apparatus shown in FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is an end elevation view of yet another alternative embodimentof the cable tensioning apparatus as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 32 is a side elevation view of the cable tensioning apparatus asshown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a side elevation view of the cable tensioning apparatus asshown in FIGS. 27 and 28 with a side door open.

FIG. 34 is an interior perspective view of top pulleys in the cabletensioning apparatus as shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is another interior perspective view of further pulleys in thecable tensioning apparatus as shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 36 is another interior perspective view of lower pulleys in thecable tensioning apparatus as shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of cable yoke and associated pulleys inthe cable tensioning apparatus shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 38 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a corner pulley for usein the temporary railing in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 39 is a front elevation view of the pulley shown in FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a side elevational view of the pulley shown in FIG. 38.

FIG. 41 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a cornerpulley for use in the temporary railing in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 42 is a side elevation view of the corner pulley as shown in FIG.41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime and multiple primenotations are used in alternative embodiments to indicate similarelements.

The basic components and interconnections of a temporary railing 10 inaccordance with the invention are now described with reference toFIG. 1. The temporary railing 10 illustratively includes a pair ofcables 12 a, 12 b strung between a stanchion 16 a and a yoke 14. Thestanchion 16 a may be a column and/or other vertical building member aswill be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

One end of each of the cables 12 a, 12 b terminates at the yoke 14 andthe yoke is connected to a yoke pulley 22. The yoke 14 accommodatesdifferent lengths for the cables 12 a, 12 b by pivoting around the axisof the yoke pulley 22.

The cables 12 a, 12 b pass through guide eyehooks 18 a, 18 b that arefastened to the stanchion 16 a. The guide eyehooks 18 a, 18 b serve tohelp maintain the position of the cables 12 a, 12 b in relation to thestanchion 16 a. Other positioning devices similar to guide eyehooks 18a, 18 b are also envisioned as will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art. Horizontally extendable sliding rails 17 a, 17 b extendoutwardly from the cable tensioning apparatus or tower 20 as usedhereafter and may assist in preventing the cables 12 a, 12 b fromtwisting by maintaining the yoke 14 in the proper plane.

Referring additionally to FIG. 2, one end of each adjustable slidingrail 17 a, 17 b is fitted to slide through respective brackets 38 a, 38b. A thumbscrew may be arranged in the surface of each of the brackets38 a, 38 b to enable the adjustable sliding rails 17 a, 17 b to be fixedin position when each thumbscrew is turned until it bottoms out againsteach respective adjustable sliding rail 17 a, 17 b. The adjustablesliding rails 17 a, 17 b are also illustratively shown to include twisteyehooks 42 a, 42 b that may help to keep the fall protection cables 12a, 12 b from twisting.

The tower 20 may support a medial pulley 26 and an upper pulley 28 thatare spaced apart on the tower. The tower 20 may also carry a tower setpoint winch 24 that is used to tension a tower cable 30.

The cable 30 is strung through the tower set point winch 24, yoke pulley22, medial pulley 26, and upper pulley 28. The end of the tower cable 30from the upper pulley 28 is connected to the removable weights 32. Theweights may move in a path that may be guided by the tower 20.

The weight stack 32 provides a tensioning force on tower cable 30. Theforce is transmitted along the tower cable 30 where it exerts a force onthe yoke 14 thereby keeping the cables 12 a, 12 b under a selectedtension even during elongation of the cables or based upon slightmovement of the cable supports as will be appreciated by those skilledin the art. Adding or subtracting any number of weight plates 36 to thetower weight stack 32 may be used to adjust the tension force generated.

Turning now additionally to FIGS. 25-28, alternative embodiments of thetower 20′, 20″ are now described. The towers 20′, 20″ are fabricatedfrom square tubing although other materials such as round tubing andangle iron may also be used. Transport brackets 19′, 19″ areillustratively shown mounted on top of the towers 20′, 20″. Thetransport brackets 19′, 19″ each have a hole through which a cable,clevis hook, shackle clevis or the like may be attached to readilyfacilitate the transport of the towers 20′, 20″ as will be appreciatedby those of skill in the art. Each of the internal cables 30′, 30″ isstrung through a plurality of pulleys 27 a′-27 e′ and 27 a″-27 e″connected to the towers 20′, 20″.

Each of the internal cables 30′, 30″ is connected to the respectiveweight stack 32′, 32″. The tension of each of the internal cables 30′,30″ is controllable by adjusting the weight stack 32′, 32″. Rotating thewinch handle 33″ of tower set point winch 24′, 24″ permits setting thelength of the internal cable 30′, 30″ so that the weight stack 32′, 32″does not move to the bottomed out position during normal operation aswill be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Each of the towers 20′, 20″ illustratively includes side panels 30′, 31″made of sheet metal and wire mesh to thereby enclose the internalcomponents of the tower as will be appreciated by those of skill in theart. The towers 20′, 20″ illustratively include storage holds 29′, 29″at the bottom area.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 29 and 30, in an alternative embodiment,the force transmitted on the tower cable 30 may be applied by a tensionspring 37′″ or the like as will be appreciated by those skilled in theart. The tension spring 37′″ is carried by housing 35′″.

The tower 20 is shown as having a bottom plate 40 at one end of thetower (See FIGS. 2 and 3). The bottom plate 40 may be used to fasten thetower 20 in a selected position by bolting the bottom plate directly tothe floor of the installation site, for example.

Alternately, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the bottom plate 40 may beelevated off the floor of the installation site by using a combinationof all-threaded rods 25 a-25 d and a plurality of all-threaded rodfasteners 27 a-27 d such as nuts as will be appreciated by those ofskill in the art. Additionally, each all-threaded rod 25 a-25 d may beconnected to a respective optional foot 29 a-29 d. The elevated positionof the bottom plate 40 permits the tower 20 to be installed on anunfinished surface, which will receive concrete poured at later date,for example. The elevated configuration permits the concrete to bepoured without the tower 20 being moved. For instance, after theconcrete is poured, the tower 20 can be removed and the all-threadedrods 25 a-25 d may be cutoff flush with the floor as will be appreciatedby those of skill in the art.

In another embodiment of the invention, each of the all-threaded rods 25a-25 d may be sleeved in a properly sized piece of pipe (not shown) suchas PVC pipe to protect the all-threaded rods 25 a-25 d from the concretepoured to produce the finished floor surface. After the concrete pour,the all-threaded rods 25 a-25 d may be unscrewed from the new concretefloor, the PVC pipe may be cut flush with the new floor surface, and theremaining holes patched.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6A, the medial pulley26 is fastened to the tower 20 by a bracket 42, and the tower 20 may becarried by a tower housing 52. The fall protection cables 12 a, 12 b maybe pulled to the tower 20 by a winching device as is shown in FIG. 4. Apair of chain loops 42 a, 42 b are shown in FIG. 5 and may be fastenedto the tower 20. The chain loops 42 a, 42 b enable the tower 20 to besecured to a stanchion 16 b or vertical building member 16 a byrespective chains 44 a, 44 b.

The tower 20 may also include a set of wheels 48 that facilitate themovement of tower 20 to different locations, and a handle 46 that aidsin the positioning of tower 20. The tower 20 may also include anadjustable level 50 that is used to position the height of the set ofwheels 48 in relation to tower 20. For example, the adjustable level 50may be used to raise the set of wheels 48 in relation to the tower 20thereby allowing the base of tower to contact the ground. As such, thetower 20 may be easier to secure in a selected position.

Turning now additionally to FIG. 7 another embodiment of a tower 100 isnow described. The tower 100 includes a housing or frame 101 thatillustratively carries two pulleys 102, 103 for directing a tensioningcable 104 from the yoke as described above (not shown here for clarity)to the piston rod 105 of the hydraulic cylinder 107. The piston rod 105,in turn, is connected to a piston 108 within the cylinder as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art.

A hydraulic fluid 110 is supplied from the hydraulic reservoir 111 tothe high pressure side of the cylinder 107 by the hydraulic pump 112under control of the controller 115. The controller 115 is connected toa pressure sensor 116 that is, in turn, connected to the cylinder 107. Acontrol panel, not shown, may be used by an operator to set a desiredtension that will be used by the controller 115 to control the hydraulicpressure to thereby maintain the selected tension on the guard cables.The controller 115 and pump 112 are illustratively electrically poweredvia a storage battery 117 that may be recharged during daylight hours bythe solar panels 118 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.Other powering schemes are also contemplated by the present invention.

Another tower 120 embodiment is now described with reference to FIG. 8.In this tower 120, a pneumatic or air pump 132 is used to maintain thedesired air pressure in the cylinder 127 to thereby maintain the desiredtension in the guard cables. The tower 120 includes a housing or frame121 that illustratively carries two pulleys 122, 123 for directing atensioning cable 124 from the yoke as described above (not shown herefor clarity) to the piston rod 125 of the hydraulic cylinder 127. Thepiston rod 125, in turn, is connected to a piston 128 within thecylinder as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Air issupplied to the high pressure side of the cylinder 127 by the air pump132 under control of the controller 135. The controller 135 is connectedto a pressure sensor 136 that, in turn, is connected to the cylinder127.

A control panel, not shown, may be used by an operator to set a desiredtension that will be used by the controller 135 to control the airpressure to thereby maintain the selected tension on the guard cables.The controller 135 and pump 132 are illustratively electrically poweredvia a storage battery 137 that may be recharged during daylight hours bythe solar panels 138 as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.Other powering schemes are also contemplated by the present invention.Referring now additionally to FIGS. 31 and 32, in an alternateembodiment of tower 120′, an air supply tank 139′ is connected to thehydraulic cylinder 127′ and air pump 132′ as will be appreciated bythose of skill in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a cable clamp 60 used in conjunction with thetemporary railing 10 is now described. The cable clamp 60 includes cablegripping jaws 62 a, 62 b that are operable to securely hold one of thefall protection cables 12 a, 12 b, for example, when handles 64 a, 64 bare in a closed position. Moving the handle 64 a away from the handle 64b, the open position, releases the cable gripping jaws 62 a, 62 b from arespective fall protection cable 12 a, 12 b.

The gap between the cable gripping jaws 62 a, 62 b may be adjusted by anadjustment screw 66 located at one end of the handle 64 a as will beappreciated by those of skill in the art. The cable clamp 60 may befabricated by modifying a set of curved jaw locking pliers to includehandles 64 a, 64 b although other embodiments will be apparent to oneskilled in the art. The cable clamp 60 further includes a tether 68connected to a threaded U-bolt 70.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-14, a cable jack 72 used in conjunction withthe temporary railing 10 and the cable clamp 60 is now described. Thecable jack 72 includes a handle 74 rotatably connected at a medialposition by a pivot member 76 to a first member 78, which is connectedto a carabiner 80. One end of the handle 74 is connected by a pin 82 toa second member 84, which is connected to a handle carabiner 86.

The cable clamp 60 is positioned onto one of the fall protection cables12 a, 12 b as is illustrated in FIGS. 15-19. The threaded U-bolt 70 isplaced onto the fall protection cable 12 a near the guide eyehook 18 aof the stanchion 16 a. The threaded U-bolt 70 may then be secured to thefall protection cable 12 a by a backing plate 71 fastened to thethreaded U-bolt 70 by nuts 73 a, 73 b as will be appreciated by those ofskill in the art. The secured U-bolt 70 may act as a back-up clamp 69 tothe primary cable clamp 60.

The cable gripping jaws 62 a, 62 b may be positioned on the fallprotection cable 12 a between the back-up clamp 69 and the adjacentguide eyehook 18 a. The handles 64 a, 64 b are then moved to the closedposition (FIG. 17) thereby closing the cable gripping jaws 62 a, 62 bsecurely around the fall protection cable 12 a. The handles 64 a, 64 bmay then be locked in the closed position by a locking pin 63 (FIG. 17).Thus, the cable gripping jaws 62 a, 62 b create a stop to keep the fallprotection cable 12 a from traveling through the guide eyehook 18 a whenthe fall protection cable 12 a on the side of the guide eyehook 18 awithout the attached cable clamp 60 remains under tension.

As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the temporaryrailing 10 may employ a plurality of stanchions 16 a-16 j that includeany combination of permanent and temporary stanchions. A second cableclamp 60 and back-up clamp 69 may be attached to the fall protectioncable 12 a in a manner similar to the first cable clamp 60 and theback-up clamp 69, but adjacent a stanchion 16 c instead of the stanchion16 a.

A cable jack 72 may be connected to the fall protection cable 12 abetween the first and second back-up clamps 69. In other words,referring now to FIG. 22, the layout along the fall protection cable 12a is the stanchion 16 a, the first primary cable clamp 60, the firstback-up clamp 69, the cable jack 72, the second back-up clamp 69, thesecond primary cable clamp 60, and then the stanchion 16 c.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 20 and 21, the cable jack 72 isconnected to one end of the fall protection cable 12 a by the connectinglink carabiner 80, and on the other end by the handle carabiner 86. Ofcourse, other methods of attachment are possible as will be appreciatedby those of skill in the art.

FIG. 20 illustrates the cable jack 72 in a closed position whereby thecable jack 72 transmits the tension from one end of the fall protectioncable 12 a to the other end of the fall protection cable 12 a. The cablejack 72 may be locked into the closed position by a cable jack lock 75,which secures the handle 74 in a position adjacent to the fallprotection cable 12 a.

With the first and second cable clamps 60 secured into place on the fallprotection cable 12 a as described above, the cable jack 72 may beopened as illustrated in FIG. 21. As a result, it is possible for a userto unconnect the two ends of the fall protection cable 12 a from thecable jack 72 and move them out of the way thereby permitting the userto move a load or equipment through an area between the stanchions 16 aand 16 c illustrated in FIG. 22. In addition, the rest of the fallprotection cable 12 a remains under tension because the first and secondcable clamps 60 securely hold the remaining sections of the fallprotection cable 12 a under tension. In contrast, a conventionaltemporary railing system does not typically permit a section of thecable to be released from tension to permit user access through the areaguarded by the temporary railing while the other sections of the sametemporary railing remain under tension.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 23, the temporary railing 10 mayfurther include dual-use corner pulleys 88 a-88 c. The dual-use cornerpulleys 88 a-88 c may be attached to any one of the stanchions 16 a-16i, for example. The fall protection cable 12 a may be routed around thedual-use corner pulleys 88 a-88 c and through a plurality of guideeyehooks 18 a to facilitate the transmission of tension generated at thetower 20 by the tower weights 32, not shown, for example. The dual-usecorner pulleys 88 a-88 c are illustrated as connected on the insidecorners of the temporary railing 10, however, the dual-use cornerpulleys 88 a-88 c may also be connected to the stanchions on the outsidecorners.

An exemplary dual-use corner pulley 88 a is now described with referenceto FIGS. 38-40. The dual-use corner pulley 88 a includes a yoke 150comprising two flat s-shaped pulley arms 152 a, 152 b. The pulley arms152 a, 152 b are made of steel flatbar or other suitable material aswill be appreciated by those of skill in the art. One end portion ofeach pulley arm 152 a, 152 b carries a pulley axle 154 on which a wheel156 is rotatably mounted. The other end portion of each pulley arm 152a, 152 b is connected to a mounting bracket 158.

In one embodiment, the mounting bracket 158 comprises steel angle, whichfacilitates the connection of the mounting bracket 158 to a corner of astanchion 16 a or beam as will be appreciated by those of skill in theart. This mounting bracket 158 further comprises a fastener slot 160 forconnecting the mounting bracket to a stanchion 16 a or beam with awelded hex nut as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Theend portions of each pulley arm 152 a, 152 b connected to the mountingbracket 158 are v-shaped to receive the steel angle mounting brackettherein. The point of connection between each pulley arm 152 a, 152 band the mounting bracket 158 are securely joined by welding or othersuitable fastening technique as will be appreciated by those of skill inthe art.

An alternative embodiment of the dual-use corner pulley 88 a′ is nowdescribed with reference to FIGS. 41-42. The wheel 156′ is removablycarried by the yoke 150′ and secured in place by a removable axle pin162′, which in turn is secured by cotter pin 164 a′ and 164 b′. Removalof the wheel 156′ facilitates the positioning of the fall protectioncable 12 a when the dual-use corner pulley 88 a′ is used for an insidecorner, for example. For instance, when the fall protection cable 12 ais positioned within the yoke 150′, the wheel 156′ is then secured intoposition by the removable axle pin 162′ thereby permitting the innersurface of the wheel to cooperate with the yoke to capture the fallprotection cable even if the cable is in a slack condition.

When the dual-use corner pulley 88 a′ is used on an outside corner, anouter surface of the wheel opposite the inner surface cooperates with aremovable capture member 166 to capture the fall protection cable evenif it is in a slack condition. The capture member 166 is positioned inopenings 168 a′ and 168 b′ in the yoke 150′ as will be appreciated bythose of skill in the art.

The mounting bracket 158′ illustratively includes a pair of spaced apartmounting plates 170 a′ and 170 b′. Each mounting plates 170 a′ and 170b′ may include fasteners 172 a′ and 172 b′, which are used to secure themounting bracket to a building member, stanchion 16 a, or the like aswill be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

The dual-use corner pulley 88 a′ may further include a weld plate 174′connected to one of the mounting plates 170 a′ and 170 b′. The weldplate 174′ is to be secured to a building member, stanchion 16 a, or thelike by welding thereby provided a secure connection while not damagingthe mounting bracket 158′ as will be appreciated by those of skill inthe art.

Further, the dual-use corner pulley 88 a′ may include a mounting bracketsafety tether 180′ for securing the dual-use corner pulley to arespective vertical member. The mounting bracket safety tether 180′ isconnected to the mounting bracket 158′ by a removable safety tether pin176′. The safety tether pin 176′ is positioned in an opening 178′ in theyoke 150′ as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Themounting bracket safety tether 180′ is positioned around a buildingmember, stanchion 16 a, or the like that the mounting bracket 158′ issecured to thereby providing a backup if such a connection should failas will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. The mountingbracket safety tether 180′ comprises chain, cable, cord, or the like.

An advantage of the temporary railing 10 may be that a constant and eventension may be maintained for all the sections of the cable run on thefall protection cable 12 a. For instance, test data from theexperimental temporary railing 10 shown in FIGS. 15-21 have generated afairly equal tension of 2300-2600 pounds of tension throughout theentire run of cable. In comparison, a test performed on a typicalconventional temporary railing system using a turnbuckle tightened byhand and one lever only generated about 700 pounds of tension on thefall protection cable. In addition, a test performed on a typicalconventional guardrail fall protection system using a turnbuckletightened by hand and three levers only generated about 1200 pounds oftension on the fall protection cable.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 33-37, the manner in which the towercable 30″ is strung through the pulleys 27 a″-27 e″ to yoke pulley 22″in one embodiment is now described. The tower cable 30″ is attached totower weights 32″ at one end as will be appreciated by those of skill inthe art. The other end of the tower cable 30″ is strung through thepulleys 27 a″ and 27 b″ as is best seen in FIG. 34. The tower cable 30″continues around pulley 27 b″ and around pulley 27 c″ (FIG. 35) and thenthe tower cable leaves the tower 20″ to go out to yoke pulley 22″ astower cable segment 39 a″ (FIG. 37). The tower cable segment 39 b″ isthen routed back into the tower 20″ and around pulley 27 d″ or 27 e″(FIG. 36).

The selection of which pulley 27 d″ or 27 e″ depends on the heightrequirement of the tower cable 30″ as will be appreciated by those ofskill in the art. For example, if the tower 20″ uses all-threaded rods25 a-25 d to elevate the tower (FIG. 33), then pulley 27 e″ may beemployed. In addition, pulleys 27 d″ or 27 e″ may be replaced by asingle pulley on an adjustable track as will be appreciated by those ofskill in the art.

The tower cable segment 39 c″ is then routed out to and around yokepulley 22″, and tower cable segment 39 d″ goes back to and around pulley27 e″. The tower cable segment 39 e″ is then routed out to and aroundyoke pulley 22″, and the tower cable segment 39 f″ returns to attach tothe tower set point winch 24″. The amount of mechanical advantage gainedby routing the tower cable segments 39 a″-39 f″ between pulley 27 e″ andyoke pulley 22″ may be changed by adding or reducing the number of cablesegments passing between the pulley and yoke pulley as will beappreciated by those of skill in the art. The described pulley setupgenerated a multiplier of 6 to 7 times the weight or force applied.

The tower set point winch 24″ is used to facilitate the tensioning ofthe tower cable 30″. The mechanical advantage gained by the pulleysystem of the tower 20″ permits a user to tension the tower cable 30″with reduced effort as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

In addition, other features relating to the temporary railing system aredisclosed in co-pending patent applications assigned to the assignee ofthe present application entitled TEMPORARY RAILING FOR A BUILDINGINCLUDING ACCESS OPENING AND ASSOCIATED METHODS, attorney work docketnumber 59219, and entitled TEMPORARY RAILING FOR A BUILDING INCLUDINGTENSIONING APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS, attorney work docket number59218, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that othermodifications and other embodiments are intended to be included.

1. A temporary railing for a boundary of a building floor of a buildingcomprising at least one vertical building member, the temporary railingcomprising: a plurality of temporary cable supports spaced along theboundary of the building floor; a plurality of vertically spaced apartcables carried by said temporary cable supports to extend along theboundary of the building floor; and said temporary cable supportscomprising at least one dual-use corner pulley temporarily coupled to arespective vertical building member, said at least one dual-use cornerpulley comprising a mounting bracket to be temporarily coupled to therespective vertical building member on either an inside corner oroutside corner thereof, a yoke comprising a proximal end connected tosaid mounting bracket, and a wheel removably carried by said yoke andhaving an inner surface adjacent the proximal end of said yoke forrotatably supporting a respective cable in a tensioned condition if saidmounting bracket is connected to the inside corner, said wheel alsohaving an outer surface opposite the inner surface for rotatablysupporting the respective cable in the tensioned condition if saidmounting bracket is connected to the outside corner.
 2. The temporaryrailing according to claim 1 wherein the inner surface of said wheelcooperates with said yoke for selectively capturing the respective cablein a slack condition if said mounting bracket is connected to the insidecorner; and further comprising a removable cable capture membercooperating with the outer surface of said wheel for selectivelycapturing the respective cable in the slack condition if said mountingbracket is connected to the outside corner.
 3. The temporary railingaccording to claim 2 wherein said yoke comprises a distal end oppositesaid proximal end having at least one capture pin opening therein; andwherein said removable cable capture member comprises a removablecapture pin extending through the at least one capture pin opening. 4.The temporary railing according to claim 1 wherein said at least onedual-use corner pulley further comprises an axle rotatably mounting saidwheel to said yoke, and a removable axle pin associated with said axle.5. The temporary railing according to claim 1 wherein said mountingbracket comprises a pair of spaced apart mounting plates.
 6. Thetemporary railing according to claim 5 wherein said mounting bracketfurther comprises at least one fastener extending through at least oneof said mounting plates.
 7. The temporary railing according to claim 5wherein said at least one dual-use corner pulley further comprises aweld plate connected to at least one of said mounting plates.
 8. Thetemporary railing according to claim 1 further comprising at least onechain for securing said at least one dual-use corner pulley to therespective vertical building member.
 9. The temporary railing accordingto claim 1 wherein said plurality of temporary cable supports comprisesat least one stanchion temporarily secured to the building floor. 10.The temporary railing according to claim 9 wherein said at least onestanchion has an adjustable height.
 11. A temporary railing for aboundary of a building floor of a building comprising at least onevertical building member, the temporary railing comprising: a pluralityof cable temporary supports spaced along the boundary of the buildingfloor; a plurality of vertically spaced apart cables carried by saidtemporary cable supports to extend along the boundary of the buildingfloor; and said temporary cable supports comprising at least onedual-use corner pulley temporarily coupled to a respective verticalbuilding member, said at least one dual-use corner pulley comprising amounting bracket to be temporarily coupled to the respective verticalbuilding member on either an inside corner or outside corner thereof, ayoke comprising a proximal end connected to said mounting bracket, awheel removably carried by said yoke and having an inner surfaceadjacent the proximal end of said yoke for rotatably supporting arespective cable in a tensioned condition if said mounting bracket isconnected to the inside corner, said wheel also having an outer surfaceopposite the inner surface for rotatably supporting the respective cablein the tensioned condition if said mounting bracket is connected to theoutside corner, the inner surface of said wheel cooperating with saidyoke for selectively capturing the respective cable in a slack conditionif said mounting bracket is connected to the inside corner, and aremovable cable capture pin cooperating with the outer surface of saidwheel for selectively capturing the respective cable in the slackcondition if said mounting bracket is connected to the outside corner.12. The temporary railing according to claim 11 wherein said yokecomprises a distal end opposite said proximal end having at least onecapture pin opening therein receiving said at least one removable cablecapture pin.
 13. The temporary railing according to claim 11 whereinsaid at least one dual-use corner pulley further comprises an axlerotatably mounting said wheel to said yoke, and a removable axle pinassociated with said axle.
 14. The temporary railing according to claim11 wherein said mounting bracket comprises a pair of spaced apartmounting plates.
 15. The temporary railing according to claim 14 whereinsaid mounting bracket further comprises at least one fastener extendingthrough at least one of said mounting plates.
 16. The temporary railingaccording to claim 14 wherein said at least one dual-use corner pulleyfurther comprises a weld plate connected to at least one of saidmounting plates.
 17. The temporary railing according to claim 11 furthercomprising at least one chain for securing said at least one dual-usecorner pulley to the respective vertical building member.
 18. Thetemporary railing according to claim 11 wherein said plurality oftemporary cable supports comprises at least one stanchion temporarilysecured to the building floor.
 19. The temporary railing according toclaim 18 wherein said at least one stanchion has an adjustable height.20. A method for establishing a temporary railing for a boundary of abuilding floor of a building comprising at least one vertical buildingmember, the method comprising: positioning a plurality of cabletemporary supports spaced along the boundary of the building floor;positioning a plurality of vertically spaced apart cables carried by thetemporary cable supports to extend along the boundary of the buildingfloor; and wherein positioning the temporary cable supports comprisescoupling at least one dual-use corner pulley to a respective verticalbuilding member, the at least one dual-use corner pulley comprising amounting bracket to be temporarily coupled to the respective verticalbuilding member on either an inside corner or outside corner thereof, ayoke comprising a proximal end connected to the mounting bracket, and awheel removably carried by the yoke and having an inner surface adjacentthe proximal end of the yoke for rotatably supporting a respective cablein a tensioned condition if the mounting bracket is connected to theinside corner, the wheel also having an outer surface opposite the innersurface for rotatably supporting the respective cable in the tensionedcondition if the mounting bracket is connected to the outside corner.21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the inner surface of thewheel cooperates with the yoke for selectively capturing the respectivecable in a slack condition if the mounting bracket is connected to theinside corner; and further comprising a removable cable capture membercooperating with the outer surface of the wheel for selectivelycapturing the respective cable in the slack condition if the mountingbracket is connected to the outside corner.
 22. The method according toclaim 21 wherein the yoke comprises a distal end opposite the proximalend having at least one capture pin opening therein; and wherein theremovable cable capture member comprises a removable capture pinextending through the at least one capture pin opening.
 23. The methodaccording to claim 20 wherein the at least one dual-use corner pulleyfurther comprises an axle rotatably mounting the wheel to the yoke, anda removable axle pin associated with the axle.
 24. The method accordingto claim 20 wherein the mounting bracket comprises a pair of spacedapart mounting plates.
 25. The method according to claim 24 wherein themounting bracket further comprises at least one fastener extendingthrough at least one of the mounting plates.
 26. The method according toclaim 24 wherein the at least one dual-use corner pulley furthercomprises a weld plate connected to at least one of the mounting plates.27. The method according to claim 20 further comprising at least onechain for securing the at least one dual-use corner pulley to therespective vertical building member.